Desperate search for two young children taken during home invasion
Two young children are missing from a home in Melbourne’s east following a daylight home invasion.
A police spokeswoman said armed crime squad detectives believe a man entered a home on Springfield Road in Blackburn North early on Monday while a woman and her two children, aged 5 and 3, were inside.
Police at the home in Blackburn North.Credit:Chris Hopkins
“He has then stolen the family’s black 2014 Mercedes-Benz C200 sedan with registration BEQ 882, with CCTV showing he leaves the property just after 8.45am,†the spokeswoman said.
“Police were subsequently called to the property about 8.55am for a welfare check and located the woman. The two children, a girl aged 5 and a boy aged 3, are missing from the address. Both children are of Asian appearance.â€
The vehicle was last seen driving east along Springfield Road, she said.
Police believe the two children were taken in the family’s black sedan, but are yet to release any images of the missing children.
The car police are searching for.Credit:Victoria Police
Nearby residents said they were unaware of what took place until the mother crawled out of the home.
Chloe Krakouer said she was driving past with her mother about 8.50am when she saw a woman lying on the driveway bound and gagged.
Ms Krakouer said a man appeared to be helping the woman and that police arrived seconds later.
Blackburn North resident Chloe Krakouer witnessed the incident on Monday morning. Credit:Chris Hopkins
“She was on the ground in the driveway. She looked hysterical,†Ms Krakouer said.
“We saw a lady on the nature strip and her mouth was bound, her hands were bound, her feet and everything,†she said.
“We thought that was strange. She was just screaming, there was a man with her helping her.
“We were concerned, wondering what was going on.â€
Forensic crews spent hours at the scene, removing items in crime scene bags including an Apple iPhone.
Children’s toys and bikes could be seen strewn across the front yard of the white weatherboard home on Monday afternoon.
The police spokeswoman said the wanted man was described as having dark skin and wearing a black hooded jumper and a face mask during the incident.
Police patrolled the nearby area in the hope of finding the children and the car.
The house in Springfield Road.Credit:Chris Hopkins
Detectives are also asking anyone who was travelling in the Blackburn North area from 8am on Monday to check any dash cam footage they might have for the car.
Anyone who sights the black Mercedes is urged to call triple zero immediately.
Anyone with other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.
An image of a black Mercedes-Benz similar to the one police are searching for following an incident in Blackburn North.Credit:Victoria Police
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Erin Pearson covers crime for The Age. Most recently she was a police reporter at the Geelong Advertiser.
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